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Monday, October 24, 2011

Over the Moon And Taking You All With Me!

I dreamed about this moment for years. Despite the incessant feelings of inadequacy and fear that my writing wasn't good enough, I kept trying. There were a lot of rejections. There was the nauseating query roller coaster. A few near misses. Throughout it all, the fear was constant.

Some of those fears went away when Eric became my agent in September, but not all. Having an agent is no guarantee of being published.

So we cleaned up my manuscript, sent it out into the scary world of publishing houses, and waited. I expected months of waiting. Rejections. Revision suggestions, if we were lucky.WhenEric called me about ten days after we went on sub and I saw that 212 area code, I figured he would say something like "Can you stop blogging about stinky things? It's kind of sick."

But no. There was an editor interested in my manuscript, one who really got it. That was when I realized I had a new talent. I could jump up and down, dance in place, bite my knuckles, silently scream, and talk on the phone as if I was perfectly sane.

After a few more calls and and a heckuva lot more knuckle biting, this finally happened about a week after that first phone call:PUBLISHER'S MARKETPLACE:Lydia Kang's THE FOUNTAIN (current title, CONTROL), about a 17-year-old who must rescue her kidnapped sister with the help of a band of outcasts with mutated genes, set in 2150 when genetic manipulation has been outlawed, to Kathy Dawson at Dial, in a good deal, in a pre-empt, for publication in 2013, by Eric Myers at The Spieler Agency (World).

(Yes, this is the same Kathy Dawson who was the editor for Chime by Franny Billingsley, a current National Book Award finalist--that Kathy! Excuse me while I get a little dizzy here and accidentally hit a wall. Ow.)I am over the moon.Okay, more like entered another galaxy! But while I'm flying high right now (and pinching myself enough to turn half-purple), I'm taking a lot of people with me on this celestial celebration.

My hubs and kids, who have been so patient while I tapped away at my laptop every spare moment of my life the past few years.

My family--parents, in-laws, siblings and their hubs, and the rest of my wonderful family that never laughed at my efforts to be an author.

My crit partners--Laura, Julie, Artemis. You guys are goddesses to me! You have been both close friends and teachers. You taught me SO much. Christine Fonseca critted a single chapter of an old novel a few years back, but she opened my eyes to making every sentence count.

My good, good friends, both writerly and not--Sarah, Deb, Jane, Grace, Phyllis, and so many others--you know exactly who you are--you cheered me on throughout the whole journey. I always felt like I didn't deserve the premature praise.

My agent, Eric, of course. He saw that maybe, just maybe, I'd written something special that needed to be shared with the world.The brilliant and insightful docs, poets, and writers of the Seven Doctors Project who nurtured my poetic and writerly beginnings years ago.

The Querytracker forum writers. They critted my first, awful queries. They answered my stupid questions yet never told me I was stupid for asking them. QT is truly one of the most supportive, helpful, kind, online communities ever.

And last but far from least, the tirelessly supportive blogger/writer community. You were always there. ALWAYS. You guys never gave up on me. You listened. I listened back, and learned so very much from your posts--about life, about writing, about surviving the crazy world of a writer.

I am ecstatic for you, sweetie, and wish you much success!! Since you're in the thanking mood, I'd like to turn it around and thank you. Since we met, oh-so not that long ago, you've been a great blogging friend and support. Thanks.

Lydia this is amazing! I AM SO, SO HAPPY FOR YOU. This is so inspirational for all of us, and really goes to show that writers CAN make it out there with the right amount of passion and dedication and talent. Congratulations!

TEN DAYS, whee, Lydia!!!!! That is so way cool. Publishers know a great deal when they see it, and have to SNAP it right up. Can't wait to read your book someday!! That is so cool about getting Kathy Dawson for an editor! BIG congrats on your cool news. :)

CONGRATULATIONS, LYDIA. I am thrilled for you. You deserve it, my superwoman friend. Hugs,hugs and more hugs. The news could not have come on a better day for me; today is one of the most auspicious days of the Hindu Calendar.

EEEEEEEE! Oh, dancing while typing and yelling, Yay, Lydia! I'm so happy and excited for you. It couldn't happen to a nicer, more deserving person. You've been here for so many others with helpful tips, intriguing information and encouragement. Can't wait to read that book--it sounds amazing.

Lydia, I'm just bawling as I read this--it has been a pleasure and an honor to be your crit partner. I'm so happy for you, you have been my inspiration from the beginning. You are the girl with 500 brands in the fire but doing it all with such grace and tenacity. Wouldn't have ever known what a query even was without you, let alone started a blog. You have always been a star, with that rare gift of true sincerity. Now everyone will get to see you shine!! (Cheesy, yes, but from the heart!) Congratulations again!

WOW, Lydia, that is so freaking fantastic! I am genuinely happy for you. Stories such as yours give all us other writers hope. And if I ever get an agent and sell my book, I hope I can write even half as eloquent a thank you as you have. You rock!

I'm so excited for you, Lydia! You are living our drug-fueled fantasies! Okay, maybe sleep-deprived fantasies. Whatever. Anyway, best of luck with The Fountain and Kathy Dawson (she also edited several of KL Going's books! I met them both at my very first conference, more than 4 years ago).

Can't wait to read the book and then say casually, "Yeah, I was following her blog before she got published." Whew, barely made it under the wire. Great discovered talent in the dancing, and clearly, the writing too.

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